Internal-combustion-engine regulator.



No. 803,839. PATENTED OGT.31,1905. A. N. HATHERELL.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1904.

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INTERNAL-'COIVIBUSTION-ENGINE REGULATOR.

No. 8C3.339.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed June 21, 190 i. Serial No. 213,444.

T0 (1, whom itvmu concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT NEWTON Harr ERELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Appleton, in the county of Outagamie and Stateof Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Internal-Combustion-Engine Regulator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The invention relates to a means for automatically regulating the speedof internalcombustion engines.

According to the form of the invention here illustrated the regulatorconsists principally in a swinging contact member actuated bycentrifugal force through the revolution imparted to the regulatingmember in time with the operation of the engine, said contact memberbeing combined with conducting devices in such a manner as toshort-circuit the electrical igniting apparatus, thus stopping theignition of the charge of fuel when the speed of the engine becomes toogreat.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating, as anexample, one manner of practicing my invention, in which like charactersof reference indicate like parts in both of the views, and in which-Figure 1 is a side view of an engine, showing the regulator appliedthereto; and Fig. 2 is an end view of the centrifugally-operatingcontact device.

In Fig. 1, 10 indicates the crank-shaft of the engine, and 11 thespark-plug, which projects into the engine-cylinder to ignite thecharge. 12 indicates the induction-coil of the igniting apparatus, 13the primary circuit, including a source of energy 14: and a commutator15 of any suitable form, and 16 indicates the secondary circuit,connected to the spark-plug l1 and grounded on the engine, as indicatedat 17. The commutator is intended simply to make and break the primarycircuit 13, unaffected by the operation of my improved regulator, whichaffects the secondary circuit only. Obviously the form of commutatoremployed is immaterial. As illustrated in the drawings, however, itcomprises a conducting-band (4, attached to the engineshaft 10 andengaged by a stationary spring tongue or 1 brush 7) in connection withone pole of the primary circuit 13. The brush Z2 is independentlysupported in any desired mannerfor example, by an insulating-ring (Z.The conducting-band a is insulated from the shaft 10 and carries aconducting-arm 0, whlch runs around the insulating-lung d.

Said ring is held stationary on the frame or base of the engine. Theinsulating-ring (Z carries a conducting-segment e in connection with theother pole of the primary circuit 13. It will be seen, therefore, thatas the parts a and 0 turn with the shaft 10 the arm 0 periodicallycontacts with the segment 6, and the circuit 13 is closed through theparts 6, c, a, and b. The circuit is broken the instant that the arm 0runs off the segment 6. This action goes on regularly and is notinterrupted by the short-circuiting devices, which will be describedhereinafter.

The centrifugal contact device comprises a weighted ring-like member 18,having projecting lugs 19, pivoted to anarm 20, pro ecting transverselyfrom the crank-shaft 10. The ring 18 has a spring-finger 21, attachedthereto to limit its outward swinging movement and to hold the ringyieldingly in the diagonal position with respect to the crankshaft shownin Fig. 1. Attached to the opposite side of the ring 18 of the contactdevice is a contactfinger 22. Adjustably mounted in any suitablemannerfor example, by a bracket 2t-is a contact member (here shown as ascrew 25) insulated byasleeve 26 or its equivalent and adapted to beengaged by the contact-finger 22. Connected with the screw 25 andleading into the secondary circuit 16 of the sparking apparatus is aconductor 27.

In the normal operation of the engine the spring 21 keeps the bodyportion or ring 18 of the contact device in the inwardly-inclined ordiagonal position shown in Fig. l; but when the speed of rotation of theshaft 10 becomes greater than that to which the regulator is set thecentrifugal force exerted on the body member 18 will cause the spring 21to give and the contact-finger 22 to engage the screw 25. 'The secondarycircuit 16 of the sparking apparatus will then be short-circuited, andno spark will be developed at the plug 11. This will fail to ignite theengine charge, and consequently reduce its speed. By the adjustment ofthe contact-screw 25 the speed of the engine may be controlled asdesired. Then the screw is moved outward, the arm 22 must have a longermovement before short-circuiting, and therefore a higher speed isallowed the engine. Upon moving the screw inward a reversal of theabove-described result takes place.

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of myinvention may be resorted to at will without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. Hence I consider myself entitled to allsuchvariations as may lie within the terms of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. An internal combustion-engine regulator,comprising the combination with an electrical igniting system, of meansfor establishing a short circuit therein, and including a centrifu gally-operated member connected to turn in synchronism with the engine andadapted to be thrown into action by the centrifugal force.

2. An internal -combustion -engine regulator, comprising the combinationwith an engine having a rotary shaft and an electrical ignitingapparatus, of means for establishing a short circuit, and including acentrifugallyoperated contact member pivotally mounted on the rotatingshaft.

3. An internalcombustionengine regulator, comprising the combinationwith an engine having a rotary shaft and an electrical ignitingapparatus, of means for establishing a short circuit, including acentrifugally-operated contact member pivotally mounted on the rotatingshaft, and means for yieldingly holding the contact member in inactiveposition.

4:. An internal combustion engine regulator, comprising the combinationwith an engine having a rotary shaft and an electrical ignitingapparatus. of means for establishing a short circuit, including acentrifugally-operated contact member pivotally mounted on the rotatingshaft, and a spring connected to said member and bearing on the shaftyieldingly to hold the member in inactive position.

5. An internal -combustion engine regulator, comprising the combinationwith an electrical igniting apparatus and a shaft rotating insynchronism with the engine, of means for establishing a short circuitin the electrical igniting apparatus, and includingacentrifugally-operated ring pivotally mounted on and encircling theshaft, a contact member on the ring and means for yieldingly holding thering in inactive position.

6. An internal -combustion cngine regulator, comprising the combinationwith a retary shaft driven in synchronism with the engine and anelectrical igniting apparatus, of means for establishing a short circuitin the igniting apparatus, and comprising a centrifugally-operated ringpivotally mounted on and inclosing the shaft, a contact member carriedthereby, and a spring connected to the ring and bearing on the shaftyieldingly to hold the ring in inactive position.

7. An internal combustion engine regulator, comprising the combinationwith an engine having an electrical igniting apparatus, of means forestablishing a short circuit, including two contact members, one ofwhich is centrifugally operated and the other of which is adjustablefrom and toward the first.

8. An internal combustion engine regulator, comprising the combinationwith the engine having an electrical igniting apparatus, of means forestablishing a short circuit in the igniting apparatus, and including acentrifugally-operated member connected to turn in synchronism with theengine, a contactiinger carried thereby, and a contact-screw adjustablefrom and toward the contact-finger.

9. An internal combustion -engine regulator, comprising the combinationwith an engine having a rotary shaft and an electrical ignitingapparatus, of means for establishing a short circuit in the ignitingapparatus, and comprising a ring pivoted on and encircling the rotaryshaft, a spring yieldingly holding the ring in inactive position, acol'itact-iinger carried by the ring and a contact member adjustabletoward and from the contact member.

In testimony whereof I have sign ed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT NEWTON HATHERELL.

Witnesses:

FRED E. HANIMAN, REUBEN WV. LEE.

